The League of Women Voters of the Homewood-Flossmoor Area canceled the March 1 Flossmoor Village Board candidate forum after three of the four candidates declined to participate.
“The League is sincerely disappointed and regrets that the residents of Flossmoor are being denied the opportunity to attend a discussion of the concerns and issues facing Flossmoor, as well as to gain an understanding of the positions of the candidates because the three incumbents are not participating. This is certainly not democracy at its finest,” said Syvia Tillman, co-president.
Challenger Dennis White had accepted the invitation but the three incumbents – James B. Wilder, James C. Mitros and Perry Hoag—declined to participate.
Tillman said the League can not hold an “empty chair” debate, so it canceled the forum. The League is hosting a forum for Flossmoor District 161 board candidates at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, at Parker Junior High and for Homewood-Flossmoor High School board candidates at 7 p.m. on March 19 in Room E-1 at the high school.
Tillman stressed that the League is a nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of public policy issues through education and advocacy and neither supports nor endorses candidates for office.
League members encourage all voters to remember to vote in the April 7 election.
